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In August of that year, Nava wrote that Colonel Jose Irigoyen had arrived in Mexico with a blank royal appointment to the first vacancy in any of the provinces. The viceroy had, consequently, appointed him to succeed Munoz. But Irigoyen had fallen sick after his arrival and was unable to relieve him immediately. Nava begged him to stay in San Antonio a little longer and named Elguezabal, his able and energetic assistant, governor ad interim. But months lengthened into years. Munoz became an invalid confined to his bed, and although he had received royal permission to retire to the military hospital at Durango on one- third pay, he had to remain until his successor arrived. On July 27, 1799, the old governor died in San Antonio, and Juan Bautista Elgue- zabal took over the administration of the province. 11 He continued in office until October 5, 1805, when, like his predecessor, after many hardships that undermined his health, he died in SanAntonio.a: Pedro Nava, the commandant general at Chihuahua, on whom rested the responsibility for the defence of the Interior Provinces and the solution of the numerous problems which the rapidly changing condi- tions brought up, did not long survive Munoz, his old friend and com- panion. Elguezabal received a royal communication in 1800, informing him that the king had appointed Nemesio Salcedo to succeed Pedro Nava, who had asked for permission to retire on account of illness. On July 14, 1801, Salcedo, the new commandant general of the Interior Provinces, notified Elguezabal that he had taken possession of his office. The new commandant was an experienced officer of the king, having seen extensive service in various countries of Europe. He came to his new post by way of New Orleans where he wrote Elguezabal to inform him of his arrival. 83 Medical practitioners and epidemics in San Antonio. At the close of the century, Spanish settlers as well as mission Indians in Texas were still chiefly dependent on the barber for surgical service, particu- larly bleedings. A barber by the name of Rafael Navarrete attained considerable renown as a bleeder and general healer. Stationed oiginally in La Bahia, he was called to San Antonio to treat Francisco Arocha, a 11 Nava to Munoz, October 16, 1796, January 1, and March 7, 1797; Antonio Cordero to Munoz, March 28, 1797; Nava to Munoz, May 16, 1797, and August 17, I 798; Nava to Ayuntamiento, August 17, 1799. Bexar Archives. UNemesio Salcedo to Antonio Cordero, November 4 1 1805. Bixar Arcl,iv1s. ISReal, Cedula, August 26, 1800; Nemesio Salcedo to Elguezabal, July 14, 1 8 o I. B ezar A rcl,i111s.
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